Glove hanging device

ABSTRACT

In a system for securing gloves to an object at least one glove has an opening defined through a selected portion of the glove having a proximal end and an opposite distal end. A clasping mechanism, such as a carabiner, passes through the opening. The clasping mechanism facilitates securing the glove to the object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to gloves and, more specifically,to a system for securing a pair of gloves to an object.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Users of gloves (such as work gloves) often lose their gloveswhen not in use. Some systems are used to prevent loss of gloves, suchas the use of metal clips secured to opposite ends of strips of elasticfabric. With such systems, one clip is secured to a glove or mitten andthe opposite clip is secured to a sleeve of a jacket. The problem withsuch systems is that they are not sturdy and are only useful when theweather is such that a jacket is typically worn.

[0005] Most typical point of sale systems for gloves include onlydisposable packaging or attachment systems. Nothing in the packaging isuseful except for the gloves. Thus, the packaging provides no addedvalue to the gloves and, therefore, does not enhance sales.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a system for securing gloves whennot in use and for a system that enhances the value of glove packaging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the presentinvention, which in one aspect, is a system for securing gloves to anobject. At least one glove has an opening defined through a selectedportion of the glove. A clasping mechanism passes through the opening.The clasping mechanism facilitates securing the glove to the object.

[0008] In another aspect, the glove has a proximal end and an oppositedistal end. The opening through the glove is defined adjacent theproximal end. An opening reinforcement reinforces the opening. Acarabiner has a body member and a gate member. A selected one of thebody member or the gate member passes through the opening. The carabinerfacilitates securing the glove to the object.

[0009] These and other aspects of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description of the preferred embodiments taken inconjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to oneskilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the inventionmay be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novelconcepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the inventionemploying a carabiner.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,with the carabiner in an opened state.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 inwhich the carabiner is attached to a belt.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 inwhich the carabiner is attached to a belt loop.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the inventionemploying an outward sweeping clasping member.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the inventionemploying a slide clasp mechanism.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the inventionemploying a spring clasp mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described indetail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like partsthroughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughoutthe claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associatedherein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of“a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in”includes “in” and “on.” Also, as used herein, “gloves” includes any handcovering, including “mittens.”

[0018] Referring now in detail to the figures, where like numerals referto like elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-4 show oneembodiment 10 of the invention, in which one or more gloves 12 each hasa proximal end 14 and an opposite distal end 16. A selected corner 18 ofeach glove 12, adjacent to the proximal end 14, defines a hole 20passing there through. The hole 20 is typically reinforced with agrommet 22, or other reinforcement (e.g., stitching, in the case offabric gloves; or local melting, in the case of nylon gloves). Aclasping mechanism, such as a carabiner 30, passes through the hole 20and facilitates the securing of the gloves 12 together and to otherobjects.

[0019] Typically, a carabiner 30, includes a substantially C-shaped bodymember 32 and a gate member 34 that is hingedly attached to body member32 at a pivot point 36. The gate member 34 typically opens inwardly andis spring loaded to cause it to tend toward being in a closed position.An engagement surface at the end of the gate member opposite of thepivot point 36 will typically prevent the gate member 34 from openingoutwardly.

[0020] The carabiner 30 may be used as a point-of-sale hanging deviceused to display the gloves 12, or it may be used to secure the gloves 12around a user's belt 40, as shown in FIG. 3, or to a belt loop 42, asshown in FIG. 4. Thus, the invention offers the advantage of enhancingthe sales of the gloves 12, while providing the user a convenient andsecure way to carry the gloves 12 when not in use. Thus, the inventionallows gloves 12 to be secured to either a user's belt 40 or belt loop42 when not in use. This prevents the loss of the gloves 12. As isreadily apparent, the invention may be used to affix the gloves 12 to abackpack (not shown), suspenders (not shown), a brief case (not shown),or any other object capable of receiving the clasping mechanism 30.Because the clasping mechanism 30 may be used both to hang the gloves 12on a display rack (not shown) and to secure the gloves 12 when not inuse, the invention is more desirable than gloves with conventionalpackaging.

[0021] In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the claspingmechanism 50 may employ an outwardly extending gate member 54. Such anembodiment would offer quicker release of the gloves.

[0022] In another alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the claspingmechanism could include a slide clasp mechanism 60. The slide claspmechanism 60 could comprise a single slide clasp (not shown). However,in one embodiment, the slide clasp mechanism 60 could include a firstslide clasp 62 and a second slide clasp 66. The first slide clasp 62 hasa first clasping mechanism 64 and an opposite first slide clasp end 72.The second slide clasp 66 has a second clasping mechanism 68 and anopposite second slide clasp end 74. The first slide clasp end 72 isjoined to the second slide clasp end 74 to allow rotation of the firstslide clasp 62 relative to the second slide clasp 64. A rotating joint70 may be used to join the first slide clasp end 72 to the second slideclasp end 74.

[0023] In yet another alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, a springclasp 80 may serve as the clasping mechanism. Spring clasps 80 arerelatively inexpensive. While not shown, a pair of oppositely disposedspring clasps 80 may also be used in a configuration similar to thatshown in FIG. 6, in accordance with the invention.

[0024] The above-described embodiments are given as illustrativeexamples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations maybe made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specificationwithout departing from the invention. Accordingly, the scope of theinvention is to be determined by the claims below rather than beinglimited to the specifically described embodiments above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for securing gloves to an object,comprising: (a) at least one glove having an opening defined through aselected portion of the glove; and (b) a clasping mechanism passingthrough the opening, whereby the clasping mechanism facilitates securingthe glove to the object.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising anopening reinforcement that reinforces the opening.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the reinforcement comprises a grommet.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the clasping mechanism comprises a carabiner.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the clasping mechanism comprises: (a) asubstantially C-shaped clasp body member having a first end and a secondend; and (b) a spring-loaded gate member hingedly attached to the firstend so that the gate member is capable of swinging outwardly from thesecond end.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the clasping mechanismcomprises a slide clasp mechanism.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein theslide clasp mechanism comprises: (a) a first slide clasp having a firstclasping mechanism and an opposite first slide clasp end; and (b) asecond slide clasp having a second clasping mechanism and an oppositesecond slide clasp end, the first slide clasp end being joined to thesecond slide clasp end.
 8. The system of claim 7, where the first slideclasp end and the second slide clasp end are joined to allow rotation ofthe first slide clasp relative to the second slide clasp.
 9. The systemof claim 1, wherein the clasping mechanism comprises a spring claspmechanism.
 10. A system for securing gloves to an object, comprising:(a) at least one glove having a proximal end and an opposite distal end,an opening through the glove being defined adjacent the proximal end;(b) an opening reinforcement that reinforces the opening; and (c) acarabiner, having a body member and a gate member, a selected one of thebody member or the gate member passing through the opening, whereby thecarabiner facilitates securing the glove to the object.
 11. The systemof claim 10, wherein the reinforcement comprises a grommet.